Even the grandest undertakings must start from where you are right now. Do not be daunted by the scale of a goal; just begin.
Attributed to Laozi in the Dao De Jing, this saying is a cornerstone of Chinese pragmatic philosophy. It is used to motivate people to take action rather than get lost in planning or fear.
Chinese thought often emphasizes the unity of the small and the great — that the macro is contained in the micro. This saying cuts through anxiety by focusing on the present action, a deeply practical and Daoist insight.
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